LA Lakers are running out of time to convert guard Jordan Goodwin's two-way contract into a standard deal, as he has only three games of eligibility left this season and may force the team to waive either Cam Reddish or Alex Len to create roster space.
The Los Angeles Lakers have discovered a hidden gem among their two-way players this season by signing guard Jordan Goodwin, who has been given big minutes. However, his eligibility to compete is nearing its limit.
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Indiana PacersGoodwin joined the LA Lakers on a two-way contract after the February 6 trade deadline, following the team's decision to waive Armel Traore to create a roster spot. This arrangement allows him to play in a maximum of 19 games as a two-way player.
"If you sign a two-way contract at the beginning of the season, you have 50 games of eligibility and being active. But because Jordan signed late, he actually only has 19 games of availability, and he just played his 14th game for the Lakers. So he only has five more games of eligibility left, and the Lakers have 15 games left," Jovan Buha of The Athletic mentioned on his Monday podcast.
Goodwin played his 16th game as a Laker on Thursday night in a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring eight points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out five assists in 31 minutes, so his eligibility is now left at three games.
Buha also highlighted that financially, it makes sense for the Lakers to keep Goodwin on his two-way deal until the regular season's end and convert him to a standard contract on the final day. However, he believes Goodwin has proven to be too good to wait that long.
The Lakers are looking to solidify their playoff rotation and need as many repetitions and roster continuity as possible.
"I think he's too good. ... Whatever the savings are, it's not going to be that much compared to converting him after his two-way contract has exceeded its games, and I think it's pivotal for the Lakers not to overthink this and not to try to save money for the sake of let's survive without him these two weeks," Buha said. "This dude has been playing some remarkable basketball.
"The second he has played his maximum amount of games, he should be converted, and that seems to be something that's going to happen sooner than later. If I'm the Lakers, you gotta sign this guy. You gotta make him a 15-man roster player, and you can't wait."
The Lakers are expected to convert Goodwin's two-way contract into a standard deal, likely waiving either Cam Reddish or Alex Len to make room on the roster.
Head coach JJ Redick has consistently praised Goodwin as a key rotation player. This season, the 26-year-old guard has averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 22.1 minutes over 16 games (five starts) with the Lakers.
Given these numbers, Buha believes the Lakers should secure Goodwin for the long term.
"Well, the Lakers can prevent him from going to the market, and I think that would be wise of them," the beat writer noted. "I think they should sign him to a multi-year deal. So, if I were the Lakers, I would sign him to a 3 or 4-year deal and just get him as cheaply as possible. It would be a veteran minimum contract.
"I think, more likely than not, he just signs a multi-year deal with the Lakers."
A four-year NBA veteran, Goodwin has career averages of 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 137 games played with Washington, Phoenix, Memphis, and now Los Angeles.
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